Hamilton bolts McLaren, takes ride with Mercedes

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Lewis Hamilton is moving to Mercedes, replacing seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher in a major shakeup that also saw Sergio Perez sign with McLaren.

Hamilton has been at McLaren throughout his F1 career, but the British team had been unwilling to match a lucrative offer from Mercedes, where he will team with Nico Rosberg next season on a three-year contract.

“It is now time for me to take on a fresh challenge and I am very excited to begin a new chapter,” Hamilton said. “Mercedes-Benz has such an incredible heritage in motorsport, along with a passion for winning which I share.”

The deal, which had been rumored for weeks, was confirmed by Mercedes on Friday shortly after McLaren announced its signing of Perez.

NHRA: Top Fuel racer Antron Brown led a record-setting day of qualifying in the Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Ill.

Brown and the rest of the NHRA teams took advantage of cool fall temperatures that led to track records in all four Full Throttle Series classes.

Brown powered his dragster to a track-record performance of 3.737 seconds at 326.79 mph to qualify in front of teammate and championship rival Spencer Massey. Brown and Massey entered the event tied at the top of the Top Fuel standings, but Brown holds a two-point lead by virtue of his better qualifying effort.

Jack Beckman topped the Funny Car field, Jason Line had the Pro Stock lead, and Hector Arana Jr. was the fastest in Pro Stock Motorcycle at the third of six playoff races.

In Funny Car, Beckman had a track-record time of 4.049 at 308.85 in a Dodge Charger. Yorba Linda's John Force was second in 4.060 at 308.35, and his daughter Courtney was fourth in 4.073 at 309.70.

Line set both ends of the Pro Stock track record in moving to the top of the order with a performance of 6.514 at 212.76 in a Chevy Camaro. Arana Jr. had a track-record time of 6.826 at 195.19 on a Buell.

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Kurt Busch will make his first start in the No. 78 car for Furniture Row Racing at the Oct. 13 race at Charlotte.

Busch signed this week to drive for the Colorado-based team in 2013. He'll get an early jump and drive the final six races of this season for his new team.

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